US Initial Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly in Week Ended Dec. 20

08:35 AM EST, 12/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 214,000 in the week ended Dec. 20 from an unrevised 224,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for no change in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average fell by 750 to 216,750 after rising by 500 to a level of 217,500 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims increased by 38,000 to 1,923,000 in the employment survey week ended Dec. 13. Insured claims were at a level of 1,944,000 in the employment survey week ended Nov. 15.

The weekly initial jobless claims data released by the US Labor Department measures filings for unemployment insurance benefits. Initial filings are reported through the previous Saturday, while those already on benefits are measured with a one-week lag.

A decrease in claims suggests a stronger labor market, a positive for the US economy and stocks, but a negative for bonds as it suggests wage growth that could lead to inflation.

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